Gripping mechanism



R. 'J. COOPER 2,766,061 GRIPPING MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1953 IN VEN TOR BY floss 'oaper fi Ton/wry 2,766,06l GRIPPINGMECHANISM Ross J. Cooper, Seattle, Wash. Application April 3, 1953, Serial No. 346,750 6 Claims. (Cl. 294-117) My invention relates to the art of a gripping mechanism. More particularly my invention relates to gripping tongs, particularly operable with one hand and with turning action with leverage.

While the gripping means of my invention may be used where power hoisting means is employed, it is particulaiiy adapted for manual operation, especially providing a handle with two tong members which may be gripped by the palm of the hand and fingers so that the tongs with its load may be manipulated in a turning action.

A further object is to provide gripping tongs which are .of general utility where heavy objects are to be handled and which are especially well adapted for use in connection with concrete forms in which planks or bracing members and like parts must be handled and manipulated with in narrow confines and in locations difiicult of access.

Often in concrete form work planks must be lowered into position and accurately placed or in narrow channels and removed or moved into their proper positions in the forms. These gripping tongs make it possible to grip a plank or like object and lift it or lower it or angularly move it or otherwise position it by the use of only one hand, thus leaving the other hand free for holding on to the forms or for other uses. Also these tongs make it much easier to .carry planks and relieve the user of the necessity of gripping the planks with the hands, thus minimizing the danger of injury due to splinters, bumps, bruises, and the like.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide gripping means which may be applied to the load by one hand or the grippers released from the load by one hand operation.

Other objects of this invention are to provide gripping tongs of simple and eflicient construction comprising two relatively crossed pivotally connected tong members having opposed gripping arms extending in one direction and divergent handle mounting arms extending in an opposite direction from their pivot. These mounting handle arms are provided with a handle slidably mounted on the di- ,7 said handle being restrained and controlled by a telescopic guide member. Thus pressure exerted on said handle will spread apart the gripping mounting arms with equal force and equal displacement. Similarly a lift exerted on said handle will tend to move said gripping mounting arms toward each other into gripping engagement with an object, as the load, therebetween with equal force on each arm and equal displacement of the hook or gripping parts.

Another Object is to provide the handle with an-gularly disposed end portions, -each having a hole therethrough to receive the mounting arms, the walls of :each hole extending divergingly from the center of the hole thereby providing a curved surface engaging the mounting arm.

Another object of my invention is to provide gripping tongs havin means operable to lock the gripping arms or hooks of the tongs in engagement with the load.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with others inherent in the same are attained by Ti atented Oct. 9, 1956 corresponding to the view 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation with parts in section, showing tongs having locking means to make fast the clamping hooks or arms in engagement with the load.

These gripping tongs are formed of two relatively crossed tong members indicated generally by numerals 10 The two handle mounting arms in an opposed relation in a common plane and are subpositioned in an opposed relation and which preferably coincides with the plane of mounting handle arms 12 and 16.

The handle 22 extends transversely across or bridges 16 and has inclined the handle 22 is slidably mounted on dle mounting arms and away from the pivot 20.

Two relatively telescopic guide members 25 and 2t; are provided to control and restrain the handle 22 against tilting movement relative to the handle mounting arms 12 and i6 and to thus insure that the handle 22 will not bind or catch on the handle mounting arms 12 and 16 but will operate smoothly thereover. The guide memin the form of a tubular member integral with and perpendicular or normal to the handle 22 and extending toward the pivot 29. The handle 22 and guide member The other telescoping member 26 of the guide may be in the form of a rod which fits telescopically and slidably into the tubular guide member 25. This guide rod 26 has an integral forked end portion or saddle 27 which 25 are shaped like a letter T.

fits over the flattened tong member parts 13 and 17 and is secured on the pivot 20. The two telescopic members 25 and 25 thus form a relatively stiff telescopic guide or control means which will restrain the handle 22 against tilting and insure smooth non-binding movement of the same over the handle mounting arms 12 and 16. The outwardly curved portions 21 on the ends of the handle arms 12 and 16 serve as stops to prevent detachment of the handle 22 from the handle mounting arms 12 and 16. in the use of this device, the handle 22 is conveniently grasped and held in one hand and when so held, this handle 22 provides an filfiCiBIlt hand hold by means of which a lift or a turning force or a downward pressure may be exerted on the tongs. With the palm of the hand pressing on the handle 22 manifestly the fingers may be brought to bear upon the mounting arm 12 and at the same time upon the telescoping member 25 thus providing a grip which can exert turning pressure with considerable leverage.

When the handle 22 is moved downwardly on the handle mounting arms 12 and 16 toward a position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, the gripping arms 14 and 18 will be spread apart so that they may receive therebetween an object such as a plank or board 23, Fig. l, which is to be lifted. When a lifting force is exerted on the handle 22, said handle will be moved away from the pivot point on the divergent handle mounting arms 12 and 16 thus moving these handle mounting arms and the gripping arms 14 and 18 together and gripping an object such as a plank 28 between the gripping prongs and 19. Obviously when an object 28 is thus held, the weight of the object or the lift exerted on the handle 22 will tend to tighten the grip on the object.

This device may be used for lifting and handling various different objects but is especially well adapted for use in concrete form work where planks and boards must be handled and lifted and manipulated into the proper positions within the narrow confines of concrete forms.

The gripping arms 14 and 18 are easily released from an object by exerting a push on the handle 22 moving it towards the pivot point. The said handle forms an eficient grip member by which either a torque or tilting force can be exerted on an object held between the gripping ar-ms 14 and 1.8. The tool is heavy enough so that it may be used to hammer or knock loose brass members in concrete forms and may also be used to lift up or pull loose such brass members.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the invention in which an externally threaded telescopic guide member 26a corresponding to telescopic guide member 26 is provided with a forked end member or saddle 27a connected with a pivot 2% which corresponds to pivot 20. A telescopic member 26a telescopes into a second telescopic guide member 25a which corresponds to the telescopic guide member 25. The remainder of the tong structure shown in Fig. 4 is identical with that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and like parts thereof are similarly numbered. A nut 29 is threaded on to the telescopic guide member 26a and tightening of the nut 29 against the end of the guide member 25a when the gripping arms are engaged with an object or load will hold the said gripping arms against the said object or load. Thus the object will be lockingly engaged by the gripping arms 14 and 18. When the nut 29 is retracted into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, that is to a position adjacent the saddle 27a, the handle mounting arms may be caused to spread apart by means of the handle being pressed toward the pivot point thereby forcing apart the gripping arms 14 and 18 and releasing the load or object engaged by the prongs 15 and 19. Obviously, the nut 29 may be positioned at intermediate points on telescopic member 26a, that is the prongs may be made adjustable to engage diiferent thicknesses of loads or objects to be gripped by the gripping arms 14 and 18. The nut 29 may be positioned at intermediate points on the telescopic guide member 26a to serve as a stop and limit the amount of spreading movement of the handle mounting arms 12 land 16 and gripping arms 14 and 18. To open gripping arms 14 and 18, the telescopic guide member 25a must move downwardly towards the saddle 27a. But the nut 29 acting as a lock nut, when adjusted to position shown in. full line in Fig. 4, prevents such downward movement. Thus, a locking means is provided for holding the load until said nut 29 is screwed downwardly, for example, to dotted line position or such other intermediate position. Let lt be particularly noted such locking means does not interfere with the sliding movement of any of the parts.

Let it be particularly noted that the handle 22 and the telescoping member 25 are integrally formed and being preferably at right angles to each other, the combination positively and definitely controls the movement of the handle arms 12 and 16 and thereby the gripping members or arms 14 and 18.

Obviously changes may be made in the form, dimensions and arrangement of parts of my invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. A gripping tong mechanism comprising a pair of tong members having gripping arms and handle mounting arms; a pivot connecting said tong members intermediate their length; a handle having end portions of eyelet form which receive therethrough said handle mounting arms in freely sliding relation; and a pair of telescoping guide members having one member integrally connected to the center of said handle forming a right angle therewith and the other telescoping guide member connected to said pivot.

2. A gripping tong mechanism comprising a pair of tong members having gripping arms and handle mounting arms; a pivot connecting said tong members intermediate their length providing said gripping arms of equal length and handle mounting arms of equal length; a handle having end portions of eyelet form which receive therethrough said handle mounting arms in freely sliding relation; and a pair of telescoping guide members having one member integrally connected to the center of said handle forming a right angle therewith and the other telescoping guide member connected to said pivot.

3. A gripping tong mechanism comprising a pair of tong members having gripping arms and handle mounting arms; a pivot connecting said tong members intermediate their length; a handle having downwardly bent end portions of eyelet form which receive therethrough said handle mounting arms in freely sliding relation; and a pair of telescoping guide members having one member integrally connected to the center of said handle forming a right angle therewith and the other telescoping guide member connected to said pivot.

4. A gripping tong mechanism comprising a pair of tong members having gripping arms and handle mounting arms; a pivot connecting said tong members intermediate their length; a handle having end portions of eyelet form which receive therethrough said handle mounting arms in freely sliding relation; and a pair of telescoping guide members having one member integrally connected to the center of said handle forming a right angle therewith and 'the other telescoping guide member connected to said pivot and having an adjustable lock nut threadedly mounted thereon.

5. A gripper mechanism comprising a pivot; a pair of crossed tong members mounted on said pivot and having opposed gripping arms extending in one direction and opposed divergent mounting arms extending in an oppo- 6. A gripper mechanism comprising a pair of intersecting tong members having gripping arms and handle end mounting portions With outwardly curved knobs func tioning as stops; a saddle with side members straddling the juncture of said tong members; a pivot extending References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Durning Stevens Oct. 7, 1884 Feb. 22, 1916 

